As part of the final interview to become a member of the New Zealand Institute of Building Surveyors (NZIBS), you will need to give a presentation. So, how can you make the most of your 10 minutes?
It can feel a bit overwhelming when you know you need to give any sort of presentation. When that presentation forms part of a career defining interview, it can seem even more intimidating. With some careful planning and practice though, you can showcase your knowledge and professionalism.
Writing for NZIBS’s The Journal, I had the chance to talk about techniques that can help candidates deliver a presentation to be proud of.
Nerves and confidence
article extract: PRACTICE BEFORE YOU PREACH, plublished in ISSUE 12 of the journal
Nobody expects you to deliver a presentation like a speaker at a TED Talk. Nerves are normal and anybody who has ever given a presentation (and your panel has), knows what nerves feel like. Practicing is a great way to manage the nerves though, and it will increase your confidence. You should definitely have mock interviews where you get the chance to deliver your presentation to fellow professionals. But before that, practice on the people in your day-to-day life – Mum, Dad, flat mates. That little device in your pocket that you can’t live without, can also be handy too -record yourself on your phone and see what you look like from somebody else’s perspective.
Practice, pause and reflect
After each practice, whether it is in front of your phone or your mate from the pub, think about where you can improve:
* Add strategic pauses where you are changing to a new topic and write ‘pause’ on your prompt notes if needed.
* Is there a word you are stumbling on? Think about a substitution.
* How’s your timing? If you are consistently over the 10mins, you are going to have to chop some words out. Under the 10 minutes… Time to add more meat to the sandwich.
What you get from these run-throughs is a deeper insight into you. How you perform best, and getting to know yourself better will make you more confident on the day.
You can read the full article in Issue 12 of The Journal by clicking HERE.
By Victoria Richardson
Further Reading
APC Final Assessment Interview: Preparation Tips – This blog is focused on the RICS APC final assessment, but there are also some useful tips for NZIBS candidates as well.
Copper Seed 